In her new novel Our Wild Lives, Cameroonian writer Hemley Boum portrays a country marked by over four decades of authoritarian rule. The story follows the lives of several women facing corruption, repression, and political compromises that characterize the Cameroonian system.
Published by Gallimard, this novel resonates with Cameroon’s recent history, from the struggles for independence to the contested 2025 presidential election. Hemley Boum discusses on France 24 the responsibility of the elites in the current situation and the disappointed democratic hopes under Paul Biya’s regime.
She also addresses prospects for political change after Paul Biya’s long presidency, highlighting the complexity of a country under control where inhabitants endure the effects of a lasting and authoritarian power.